Wooden Salad Bowl Makeover – DIY Succulent Planter

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Not long ago my girl and I had some time to thrift, just the two of us. It was a fun afternoon. I unearthed some wooden salad bowls destined for a makeover!

We stopped by one of my regular hot spots where we acquired 5 wooden salad bowls. Two large serving bowls and three little bowls. Along with a load of other items. Here is a shot of our goodies..

What to do with these beauties? Well, turn them into a DIY succulent planter, of course!

salad bowl succulent planter1

I decided to hop on the succulent bandwagon. I’ve been holding out, for no particular reason, but decided today was the day to join the gang.

My goal was to make the dish un-salad bowl-ish and reusable for other things once I kill off the succulents…as I’m sure I will. I have a great yard, but the indoor variety and I have yet to become bff’s.

Wooden Salad Bowl Makeover – DIY Succulent Planter

wooden salad bowl succulent planter

This summer I was given some samples of Fusion Mineral Paint and different Decoupage varieties so I put them to use here. The buttermilk cream color won me over because I can just see a great fall scape in this bowl once I knock off the plants. Don’t you think pumpkins will look cute with this color?

wooden salad bowl succulent planter

Anyway…I have a thing for jute and wanted to add some handles and rustic accents to my new dish. Using painter’s tape I marked off where to drill holes to accept the new rope handle. The tape has two purposes. One, it is a good place to mark drill guides. Two, it helps the wood not split while drilling. The second being the biggest tip.

wooden salad bowl succulent planter

I started with a smaller bit to make a pilot hole and went back with a 5/16″ bit to finish it out.

wooden salad bowl succulent planter wooden salad bowl succulent planter

It took two coats of the Fusion paint for full coverage, but it went on great! This was my first experience with this paint. It says you don’t need to seal it, but I used a wax sealer strictly because I like the finished look it gives.

Wooden Salad bowl to DIY succulent planter

Next I threaded six lengths of jute twine and knotted the inside end. After braiding the twine I threaded it through the other hole and knotted that end.

wooden salad bowl succulent planter wooden salad bowl succulent planter

Here comes the decoupage. I pretty much coated a length of twine with the decoupage medium and started free handing a swirly design, adding glue with a paintbrush as I went. Next, I reversed the design and did it again.

wooden salad bowl succulent planter salad bowl succulent planter1

As for the succulents I used a plastic plant tray to line the bowl. I filled it with a layer of gravel, then potting soil. Succulents don’t like to have their feet wet, so the gravel should help with that.

before and after makeover

salad bowl succulent planter1

 

DIY Salad Bowl Makeover

I love the pop of color and the fresh, fun texture a succulent garden has to offer. Now, let’s just hope it lasts.

wooden salad bowl succulent planter

I hope you enjoyed this salad bowl succulent planter. Be sure to pin this project if you like it!

Let me know what you think I should do with the other bowls…I’d love to hear your ideas!

wooden salad bowl succulent planter

He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs  Psalm 107:35

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39 Comments

  1. I love this for so many reasons! The jute, wooden salad bowl, succulents, oh my! Super cute. The verse is beautiful and just tops it off. Thank you for making it morning bright. 🙂

  2. What a great idea!! Such a simple update but it looks so much better. I’m featuring it tomorrow at Dream. Create. Inspire. Link. Thanks for sharing with us!

  3. Thanks for linking this up on Trash 2 Treasure Tuesday – I saw it on Hometalk first and loved it. 🙂 Love how you added the rope handles. I always snatch up those wood bowls when I find them in thrift stores, too. 🙂 And one of these days, maybe I’ll break down and jump on the succulent band wagon also…..

  4. What a great idea!! I always see bowls like that at the thrift stores when I’m looking for craft supplies, and they would definitely need a coat of something. This would allow me to use them for something else, and make them beautiful again!! 🙂

  5. I love succulents and I love this idea! I will definitely be picking up wooden bowls now! The twine embellishment on the outside of the bowl is perfect. Thanks for the idea, and a great outlook on my day with God’s word!

  6. I scoop up wooden bowls all the time and have some of the same salad bowls. Now I know what to do with them instead of storing in the cabinet for some inspiration! Thank you! I think I’ll try and seal the inside before planting. Have to figure out what to seal it with! Can’t wait until someone comes up with a solution for the smaller bowls!

    Sweet scripture for the day.

  7. The hubby and I both love going to the thrift stores. Looks like yall found lots of great stuff. I’ve seen some wood bowls at Goodwill before but think to grab them. Now I wish that I had, they make super cute succulent planters. Love the twine handles, and the design that you added.

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